After a number of Parshiot in which we talked about the construction of the Mishkan, the construction of the vessels, etc. We are on the threshold of a new era in which we begin to work in the Mishkan and serve Hashem.

Ostensibly we would have expected Aaron to go to the Mishkan to start working after all the hard work of building the Mishkan but that is not what is actually happening.

The Torah emphasizes that Aaron did not approach the Mizbeach of his own accord, but only after Moshe instructed him to “Karev El Hamizbeach.”

And the question arises why did Aaron not approach himself to start working in the Mishkan? Rashi quotes the words of the sages: “When Aharon was embarrassed and afraid to approach, Moshe said to him – why are you afraid, that is why you were chosen.”

At a simple glance, Aaron just seemed ashamed so he waited for Moses to tell him to approach and start to work.

The האר”י emphasizes that precisely because of this modesty, Aaron was chosen to accept the position, only one that has such modesty can serve the people as a high priest and be the spiritual representative of Am Yisrael

When a person thinks he deserves a certain role, it stems from pride, the thought that I am good enough to do that role. In the spiritual world, these concepts do not exist. To order serve in Kedusha one needs a lot of humility and modesty. Only a person who lives in such consciousness can work and serve as a Kohen. These things can also be taken into our private lives,

Today, we unfortunately do not have a Temple but Chachamim have taught us that our prayers serve as a substitute for the work of Korbanot. We must approach tefila righteously, in a way of modesty and humility. Hashem is ready to hear our voice, it’s something that is inconceivable!

We pray out of this feeling and not out of a feeling that everything belongs to us and so with God’s help our prayers will be willingly accepted.

The most basic and humble understanding is the understanding that there is a creator here for the world and He guides us. Only when we understand this, can the Holy of Holies be accessed within.

May we be privileged to learn from Aaron the Priest, to be with a little more modest and to understand that there is a creator of the world who watches over us and directs us.